Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 406

Chapter 406
A collective gulp echoed through the group as everyone who witnessed my hand signal went completely still.
After a moment of stunned silence, their eyes remained locked on my fingertips, which had just completed the motion, and they swallowed nervously once more.
Their reaction was understandable—the gesture I had made was a well-known indication that a person’s head was in danger of bursting.
Exclamations of dread quickly rippled through them.
Brother Gwiseong and Ji-ryong, their faces drained of color, were the first to find their voices.
“Th-That’s impossible…”
“It doesn’t add up…”
From their horrified expressions, it was clear they were all imagining a martial artist employing the Internal Explosion Technique—grabbing a head, channeling energy into it, and causing a violent detonation.
Of course, explosives such as gunpowder and Thunder Bombs (Pilrikdan) exist, but within the Murim world, the mental image most readily associated with the word “explosion” is typically the result of that specific internal technique.

Just as the shock had settled over everyone, a single, incongruous question cut through the thick tension like a blade.
“D-Does it… get smaller?”
Every head turned toward the speaker.
It was Gungbong, standing with his eyes wide in a mixture of surprise and confusion.
He appeared to have misinterpreted the motion where I had tightened and then opened my fist, focusing solely on the act of clenching.
“It’s been a while.”
It truly had been some time since I’d encountered a question so utterly guileless.
Ji-ryong let out a soft sigh and started to clarify.
Within the Dragon Fangs, Ji-ryong had taken it upon himself to act as the interpreter whenever Gungbong came out with these kinds of statements.
To be honest, he was the sole member with both the patience and the particular skill needed to communicate effectively on Gungbong’s level.
“He has a difficult job, doesn’t he?”
“No, Gungbong. What I was suggesting is that it would be similar to the effects of the Internal Explosion Technique—where a person’s head could potentially burst apart.”
A unified nod went through the group at Ji-ryong’s clarification.
Gungbong brought his hands up to cover his mouth, his shock evident.
“It could burst!? You mean—the head could just come apart!? M-Merciful heavens.”
Is there truly a significant difference between shrinking and exploding?
Both prospects are terrifying, yet Gungbong somehow appeared to find the concept of exploding far more dreadful.
And because of his reaction, a flurry of belated questions ensued.
“Ryong-ah, is that really possible?”
“Would his head actually burst?”
The questions from Sister Seol and Hwa-eun overlapped. Ji-ryong and the rest looked to me, nodding once more as they did.
It seemed they were struggling to accept it and required confirmation from me.
“It’s not… that it would literally explode.”
To be perfectly honest, describing it as an “explosion” was overstating it.
It isn’t as if the head would suddenly pop like a firework.
I opted for complete honesty, and a noticeable wave of relief passed through the gathered crowd.
“So it doesn’t actually explode?”
“Right, how could a martial art technique make someone’s head explode?”
“Then what were you trying to show us, young warrior?”
“Yes, what was the meaning behind that hand movement?”
Their faces showed a blend of tentative comfort and persistent bewilderment. It was time to provide a detailed explanation of the gesture.
“As I said before, Dongchunghacho is a type of mushroom, correct?”
“Yes, So-ryong.”
“Well, while I’m no master of fungi, I am quite familiar with the way these mushrooms inflict suffering upon their insect hosts. They develop within the host’s body, and upon reaching maturity, they rupture through the head to release their fruiting body.”
So it’s less about “exploding” and more about…
“It breaks out through the head…”
Right as I finished explaining, a familiar presence materialized just above my own head.
— Tsrrrt. 『Daddy, like this?』
Evidently, she had been paying attention and wished to confirm her understanding.
Her timing was actually ideal.
I gestured toward the top of my head and replied, “Yes, precisely like that.”
The fragile sense of relief everyone had felt instantly vanished, supplanted by a new chorus of horrified gasps.
Perhaps Hyang’s practical demonstration had been a little too vivid?
“Ugh…”
“By the heavens…”
“H-How long does he have!?”
Amid the sounds of disgust, Hu-gae voiced the most urgent question.
He was likely calculating how much time remained for the translator.
And truthfully, it wouldn’t be shocking if the mushroom were to erupt from his skull at any moment.
In a typical Cordyceps cycle, the fungus overwinters inside a bat moth larva and forces the fruiting body out in the spring to disperse its spores.
This means the entire procedure is lengthy—the host must first live through the winter.
However, this was no ordinary Cordyceps. This was a spirit-parasite.
Therefore, time was a luxury we did not have.
Although we weren’t in a tropical zone, the current climate was sufficiently warm, and augmented by spiritual energy, this mushroom’s growth could be accelerating at a rate beyond normal expectations.
We already had evidence of this.
The translator had attempted to dig into the earth earlier. This behavior indicated the Cordyceps had already seized command of his actions—a telltale sign that it had infiltrated the majority of his body.
“It has already completely permeated him.”
The common assumption is that parasitic control involves seizing the brain.
Ultimately, commandeering the brain allows one to command the body.
Even techniques like the Soul Seizing Arts (Seop-hon-sul) operate by overwhelming the mind and stripping it of rationality.
But the method by which Cordyceps directs insects is far more puzzling.
It doesn’t interfere with the brain. It disseminates uniformly throughout the body, enveloping the muscle fibers, and directly governs their contractions.
This is why the translator seemed aware, yet his physical form acted independently of his will.
It’s a captivating natural phenomenon, but for the one experiencing it? It is sheer terror.
Your consciousness remains intact, but your body acts autonomously—marching you toward your demise.
“Cordyceps are vicious little monsters. Exceptionally brutal toward defenseless insects.”
Based on this, it was reasonable to conclude the fungus had already compromised the majority of his muscle tissue.
And given his attempt to dig, it signaled its readiness to disseminate spores.
“The Cordyceps has only been inside him for a few hours, and it’s already asserting control. I fear we are running out of time.”
“Once a Cordyceps assumes dominance over its host’s form, it propagates through the musculature to manipulate its movement at will.”
“And if it’s already compelling the body to move… then the takeover is absolute.”
As I concluded, Hu-gae demanded urgently, “Then shouldn’t we depart to find the Locust King immediately?!”
He sounded prepared to charge out into the pitch-black night that very second.
However, arriving under cover of darkness, particularly after the events of the day, could easily be misconstrued as an attack.
Given the existing strain, it would be wiser to wait for daylight, where our intentions could be somewhat clearer.
“We should, but… if we go now, they will assume we seek retaliation. We must wait for morning, at the very least.”
“Damn it all…”
Even though the translator was responsible for the trouble, Hu-gae still struck the ground in a fit of anger and helplessness.
The man was, after all, one of his own.
He dropped to his knees beside the twitching translator and balled his hands into fists.
I decided an attempt to soothe him was necessary—there was no predicting what impulsive move he might make in this condition.
“A sliver of hope may remain. Let us wait for the sun to rise.”
“Hope?”
The situation wasn’t entirely hopeless—there was a potential positive.
I rested a hand on Hu-gae’s shoulder and elaborated.
“Recall the locusts we observed earlier? The ones with Cordyceps sprouting from them?”
“Yes? Was there something peculiar about them?”
“Did you note the new grass growing around those areas where the fungus had emerged?”
“Ah!”
“Exactly. By the growth of that grass, those insect corpses had been lying there for more than a month. And yet, the Cordyceps had only recently broken through.”
There are differences between humans and locusts, but if those insects provided a timeline of one to two months, we might be granted a similar period of grace.
“It is optimistic thinking, but it is a possibility.”
Hu-gae released a long, heavy sigh as he watched the translator’s involuntary spasms.
“Aah… But it’s not certain… Still, I suppose we will wait for dawn.”
Even an uncertain possibility appeared to grant him a small measure of comfort.
Behind him, the flames of our campfire crackled and leapt upward—as if giving form to his restless anxiety.

***
We were preparing to have a quick meal and commence our search just before sunrise.
But right as we were about to set out, the kids suddenly convened—not to leave, but to engage in a spirited argument.
— Tsrrt. 『I will go, everyone.』
— Tsrrr! 『Why does it always have to be you, unni? It should be my turn!』
— Chrut! 『Yes! Why does the eldest sister always get to go? Why must the younger ones always yield? I’ve noticed that people usually allow the younger sibling to go first! And that man has an odor!』
— Gyuu 『I also dislike that person. He smells bad.』
It wasn’t that they refused to accompany anyone besides me or Hwa-eun.
Fortunately, given the translator’s mortal peril and the fact the others were familiar faces, the kids had consented to assist this time.
The dispute was over pairing preferences.
As you are aware, locating the Locust King necessitated dividing into several teams and spreading out over a wide area.
We could form a maximum of six search parties, and there was a specific reason we could not exceed that number.
We had ten people in total: myself, Hwa-eun, Sister Seol, Brother Gwiseong and Sister-in-law, Ji-ryong and Eunbong, Gungbong, Master Jaheo, and Hu-gae Makgok.
Regarding the spirit beasts: Cho, Hyang, Bini, Seol, Bing, Dong, Yohwa, Sister Jeokwol, Moji and Soji, Yeondu and Orange, Sandan and Hongdan, Ranghyang, and Sister-in-law’s three Scarlet-Eyed Green-Spotted Mushrogs.
However, we had to leave Ranghyang and the three Mushrogs out of the search.
Ranghyang is blind, and the Mushrogs expend too much energy merely to be mobile.
Furthermore, someone needed to remain at camp to watch over the translator, and Sister-in-law offered to do so.
She would maintain the base camp alongside Ranghyang and the Mushrogs.
This left us with nine people and fourteen spirit beasts.
We could form teams of one human and one spirit beast, and I could personally manage Moji, Soji, Sister Jeokwol, Yeondu, and Cho—those suited for aerial scouting—providing enough for nine teams.
The complication was communication.
If a team located the Locust King, a spirit beast proficient in mental communication—one registered via the Beast Heart Art—needed to be with them to translate and notify me.
Therefore, every team required one of the following: Cho, Hyang, Bini, Seol, Bing, or Dong.
But the core of the problem? Every one of the kids desired to be paired with either me or Hwa-eun… and I could only be in one location.
Making matters worse, not a single one wished to accompany Hu-gae due to his alleged smell.
As the lively debate wore on, Hu-gae inquired nervously,
“Y-Young warrior, what are they discussing?”
“Ah, they’re… working out the team assignments.”
“It sounds as though they each have a preferred partner?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“And, um… does anyone wish to accompany me?”
His eyes held a hopeful gleam as he asked, and I could only respond with a strained smile.
He was clearly eager for someone to express a desire to join him.
But no one had.
“Well… the discussions are still ongoing, you see.”
I offered a non-committal reply and decided I needed to intervene. Dawn was almost upon us.
“Everyone, listen. Morning is nearly here. We cannot afford to debate any longer. For today only, I will assign the teams. If anyone is disappointed, I promise to spend time with each of you individually later, alright?”
— Tsrrt? 『Truly?』
— Kishi?
“Absolutely. I give you my word.”
With that assurance, the kids quieted down, and I organized us into six search teams.
The teams were:
Myself, Cho, Sister Jeokwol, Moji, Soji
Hwa-eun, Dong, Sandan, Yeondu
Brother Gwiseong, Hyang, Hongdan
Ji-ryong, Bini, Yohwa
Sister Seol, Eunbong, Gungbong, Seol
Hu-gae Makgok, Master Jaheo, Bing, Orange
Hu-gae was initially delighted when the adorable Bing was placed on his team, but his face fell the moment Bing chose to perch on Master Jaheo’s shoulder instead. I promptly gave the order for everyone to move out.
“Alright, everyone depart. If you discover anything, simply have the children relay it to me directly.”
“Understood.”
“We’re on it, young warrior.”

***
As the others vanished in five separate directions, I commenced an aerial search with Sister Jeokwol, Cho, Moji, and Soji.
As we gained altitude, powerful winds swept against us from all sides.
I instructed the kids to survey the territory vigilantly and inform me immediately of anything noteworthy.
“If you detect anything out of the ordinary, let me know without delay.”
— Chii!
— Myu-myu!
— Myuu!
We combed the region meticulously, yet there was no trace of the Locust King.
Time slipped by, and before long the sun was directly overhead—it was already noon.
Having started our search at daybreak, a minimum of six hours had elapsed.
“Where might it be concealed? Do we need to expand the search radius?”
“Let’s head a bit further in that direction, everyone!”
Even after exhaustively searching the vicinity of the Cordyceps field, we found nothing.
But just as we were extending our search outward—
— Chii!
It was Sister Jeokwol’s voice, tinged with alarm.
When I gazed into the far distance where she was focused, I could make out something.
A faint, yellowish cloud-like mass… moving rapidly toward us.
“What in the—? Let me sharpen my vision…”
I attempted to enhance my sight, but the details remained unclear.
Then, a single word surfaced in my thoughts.
“It can’t be… Locusts!?”
Yes. It was a swarm.
A yellow tide of locusts was flying directly toward us.